Text description of Figure 1

Waste management planning by territorial authorities.

The waste hierarchy outlines methods for managing waste. In order of priority these are:

  • reduction;
  • reuse;
  • recycling;
  • recovery;
  • treatment; and
  • disposal.

Methods higher up the hierarchy are given priority because they conserve more resources. Figure 1 organises the waste hierarchy into three groups:

  • waste reduction;
  • waste diversion (reuse, recycling and recovery); and
  • waste disposal (treatment and disposal).